Candor or Dauntless: Truth or Dare (Watty Awards 2013)

Part 10: Landscapes

Bekkah gets the glass box fear. She bangs and bangs on the glass. Nothing happens. Eventually, she wakes up coughing and choking.

I pat her arm, "Bekkah, it's okay. Your not drowning. Go sit with the Initiates and send Anna in." She leaves and Anna walks in.

I give Anna the fear of burning. She's tied up and she's clawing at the ropes, nothing. Her enemies are laughing. Alex, Jaden, and Jess are laughing and yelling things at her. She's crying heavily. The fire is blazing below her as Jess walks up and soaks her in kerosene. She screams but then calms down. Her heartbeat slows and she's awake. She doesn't cry, she just stands and walks to the door.

"Anna, can you send Jess in?" She nods and leaves. Jess walks in, she still has the jump in her step from Amity. She smiles and sits in the chair. I'm giving her the fear of shooting her family. She opens her eyes and there they are. Her two sisters an her mother.

A voice speaks loudly, "Kill them or I kill you." It's Johanna Reeves. Amity's representative.

Her breathing hitches and she shakes her head, "I won't kill them. Kill me! Do it!" She kicks the table with the gun on it. They clatter to the ground. Three gun shots ring in the silent room. Johanna has shot Jess's family. She runs over and pulls out of the simulation. Her breathing calms and she stands.

"Jess, send in Cleo." She leaves.

Cleo walks in and strides over to the chair and sits. I'm giving her the Abnegation fear. She blinks a few times as the clawing and banging start on the windows. She screams and searches the room. She runs into the closet and closes the doors. She closes her eyes and breathes.

She talks to herself, "In, out, in, out, in, out." Finally, she pulls out and we're back in the dark room.

She quickly composes herself, "Send Jaden in!" I yell to her. She walks out confidently.

Jaden walks in, with Four behind him. 

I scoff, "Glad you could finally make it, Four."

He half smiles, "Don't be bitter, Six." I roll my eyes as Jaden takes a seat. I'm giving him the fear of drowning in the ocean. He opens his eyes and coughs, the water already gushing into his lungs. He yells and tries to grab the rocks. The rock is very slippery and his grip faulters. He screams in pain as his face bashes into the rock. He loses consciousness and falls below the surface of the water. He wakes up choking and coughing. He's flapping his arms.

I touch his shoulder, "Jaden, you're fine...You aren't drowning." He shakes his head and breathes. I smile at him and he stands.

"Send in Dylan!" I yell to him before he closes the door.

Dylan strides in, smiling. He sits in the chair. I'm giving him the crows. He opens his eyes and he's sitting in the field. He looks at his shoulder as a black crow lands on him, it's talons digging into his skin. He swats at it but it doesn't move. Another crow lands on his forearm, blood pouring from the wounds. He swats at it, but again he fails. His heart rate speeds up as the cloud of crows descend toward him. His eyes go wide in fear and he lays down. He closes his eyes and clamps his teeth down. The crows push and prod at his sides and he lets them. He faced this fear head on. We awaken in the room again. He looks at me and stands.

"Send in Alex. "I tell him. He brushes off imaginary dirt and walks out. Alex walks in a few seconds later. He smiles and sits in the chair. I have to give him my last fear, intimacy. I sigh as we awaken in a white room.

In the corner of the room, there's a large white bed. Alex is frozen in place, his eyes wide. I can't control my body. I walk to him and pull him close.

I try desperately to pull away, but I can't. I pull his head down to mine and kiss him. He's frozen in place. The kisses become more frantic and he's looking at me like I'm crazy. I can't move. I'm a prisoner in my own body. I feel him wrap his arms grab my shoulders, he pushes me away.

"Six. Stop, I can't do this. I won't do this in a simulation." He says. He brings me close again and kisses me. I still have no control over myself. I finally gain control of my arms and I pull away. We're still in the room with the bed. Why are we still here? He faced to fear, we should be done. I look at his face and it's plastered with surprise.

"Six, how am I going to get out of this?'' He asks me. I can't speak or move any part of me again. My body lurches at him. My arms grab his neck and pull him down to my lips again. He doesn't resist. He pushes me toward to my bed. I feel my breath quicken. It's not me. I can't move.

His lips press full force on my mouth. It would feel nice if it was me kissing him. All of a sudden, the white walls and bed disappear. I'm sitting in my chair, with Alex next to me. He's breathing heavily and he's covered in a cold sweat. I grab his arm and he looks at me.

"I couldn't move. It was like I was locked in my own head." I say and he nods. He's crying a little now. I look at Four. His face is red with anger? Embarrassment? It's hard to tell.

"Alex, let's go." I stand and release his arm. We walk out with Four trailing behind us. He sits near Cleo and Jaden.

"Everyone, tomorrow you will meet us in the Training Room. We start fighting. Eric, the Dauntless leader, will be there. Be there by 10am. Thanks. You're free to go." I say and they leave. Alex looks over his shoulder at me and smiles. I nod. Four grabs my arm and pulls me into the Simulation Room. His face is still red, his muscles are tense.

"Tell me you aren't dating an Initiate." He demands.

I roll my eyes, "Why should it matter to you what I do? You have Konnor." His face gets even more red.

"Please. Tell. Me. You. Aren't. Dating. An. Initiate." He says, infuriated.

I scoff, "Why does it matter to you? We aren't together. Okay?'" It's like talking to a 6-year old!

He grabs my arms tight, "Tris! What are you doing? He's younger than you! He's your student!" He says mockingly.

I sigh, "That one year gap really is insurmountable." I say, quoting him.

He shakes his head, "I thought you loved me!"

I gasp, "I thought you loved me! You cannot be trusted. That's the only reason I'm not with you." I pause to recover, "So, I'm guessing you and Konnor are just friends with benefits?"

He coughs, "What?"

I shake my head, "Bye, Four." I walk towards the door. He grabs my shoulder and turns me around. I'm about to protest, when he presses his lips to mine. Not this again.